9th (Secunderabad) Division

The 9th (Secunderabad) Division was an infantry division formation of the British Indian Army. It was part of the Southern Army and was formed in 1904[1] after Lord Kitchener was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India between 1902 and 1909. He instituted large-scale reforms, including merging the three armies of the Presidencies into a unified force and forming higher level formations, eight army divisions, and brigading Indian and British units. Following Kitchener's reforms, the British Indian Army became "the force recruited locally and permanently based in India, together with its expatriate British officers."[2]

For the World War II formation, see 9th Infantry Division (India).

9th (Secunderabad) Division
Active1904 - 1922
CountryBritish India
AllegianceBritish Crown
BranchBritish Indian Army
TypeInfantry
RoleInternal Security
SizeDivision
Part ofSouthern Army

The Division remained in India on internal security duties during World War I, but some of its brigades were transferred to serve with other units. The 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade traveled to France and served on the Western Front as part of the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. The 27th (Bangalore) Brigade served in East Africa as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force B. Force B was broken up in December 1914 and its units used for the defence of East Africa.[3][4]

Composition in 1914

At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the division was commanded by Major-General A. Phayre[5] and had the following composition:[6][4]

Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade
Deccan Horse at Bazentin Ridge, France, 1916
Deccan Horse at Bazentin Ridge, France, 1916
Main article: 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade

Commander: Brigadier-General F.W.G. Wadeson[7]

1st Secunderabad Infantry Brigade

Commander: Major-General P.S. Wilkinson[7]

2nd Secunderabad Infantry Brigade

Commander: Brigadier-General E.H. Rodwell[7]

Bangalore Brigade
Indian Army Gun crew East Africa
Indian Army Gun crew East Africa

Commander: Brigadier-General Richard Wapshare[7]

The brigade was reformed as 27th (Bangalore) Brigade and joined Indian Expeditionary Force B for service in British East Africa. The formation was:

Southern Brigade

Commander: Brigadier-General W.G. Hamilton[7]

Engineers
  • 9th Field Company, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Madras Miners and Sappers
  • 10th Field Company, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Madras Miners and Sappers
  • 11th Field Company, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Madras Miners and Sappers
  • 12th Field Company, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Madras Miners and Sappers

See also

References
  1. Sumner 2001, p. 4
  2. Oxford History of the British Army
  3. "9th (Secunderabad) Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
  4. "The Indian Army 1914 by Dr. Graham Watson on orbat.com". Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  5. Perry 1993, p. 105
  6. Perry 1993, p. 108
  7. Perry 1993, p. 106
  8. Rinaldi 2008, pp. 330, 331
  9. "The Order of Battle of the British Expeditionary Force (October 1914)". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2015.

Bibliography
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
  • Moberly, F.J. (1923). Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign. London: Imperial War Museum. ISBN 1-870423-30-5.
  • Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.
  • Rinaldi, Richard A (2008). Order of Battle of the British Army 1914. Ravi Rikhye. ISBN 978-0-97760728-0.
  • Sumner, Ian (2001). The Indian Army 1914-1947. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-196-6.
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